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2.4 Biological Resources

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2.4 Biological Resources 2.4 Biological Resources This section discusses potential impacts to sensitive biological resources resulting from the implementation of the proposed project. The analysis is based on the review of existing resources, technical data, and applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines. 2.4.1 Existing Conditions The landscape of the County of San Diego (County) is diverse and includes broad, flat valleys; deep canyons; perennially flowing rivers; intermittent and ephemeral drainages; moderately and steeply sloped terrain; steep coastal bluffs; flat mesas; rolling foothills; and a series of coastal bays, inlets, and lagoons (County of San Diego 1997). Due to the diverse topography, range of micro-climates, soils, and other natural features, a variety of habitats and species occur within the County, many of which are unique to the region. The development of urban, rural, and agricultural areas, as well as invasive plants and species, have posed a threat to the conservation of the County’s native habitat and endemic species. Projects implemented under the amended Zoning Ordinance could occur in areas throughout the County (Figure 1-2) that support or have the potential to support the development of Meteorological Testing (MET) facilities, wind turbine systems, and associated facilities. These systems can occur within both developed and natural areas. Vegetation Communities The multiple vegetation types within the project area have been combined into 10 vegetation community categories, which are described below. The extent and location of the vegetation communities present within the project are shown in Figure 2.4-1. Scrub and Chaparral Scrub and chaparral is one of the most widespread vegetation communities in the unincorporated County. This vegetation community category comprises 42 individual vegetation communities, including coastal scrub, sonoran desert scrub, southern mixed chaparral, northern mixed chaparral, coastal sage-chaparral scrub, chamise chaparral, Diegan coastal, and Riversidian sage scrub. General descriptions of the chaparral and scrub communities are provided below. Scrub Diegan coastal sage scrub is the dominant type of scrub in the County and is habitat for the sensitive California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica). There are several different types of Diegan coastal November 2011April 2012 6281 Zoning Ordinance Amendment – Environmental Impact Report 2.4-1 2.4 Biological Resources sage scrub throughout the County, including Diegan coastal scrub, Diegan coastal scrub (coastal form), Diegan coastal scrub (inland form), and Diegan coastal scrub (Baccharis-dominated). Coastal sage scrub consists predominantly of low-growing, aromatic, and generally soft-leaved shrubs. Diegan coastal sage scrub is a native plant community characterized by soft, low, aromatic, shrubs and subshrubs characteristically dominated by drought-deciduous species. This community typically occurs on sites with low moisture availability, such as dry slopes and clay-rich soils that are slow to release stored water. The representative species in this habitat type are California sage (Artemisia californica), flat-topped buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), black sage (Salvia mellifera), saw-tooth goldenbush (Hazardia squarrosa), and laurel sumac (Malosma laurina). Riversidean sage scrub has similar species as Diegan coastal sage scrub, but it occurs more inland in the northern part of the County and on steep slopes, severely drained soils, or clays that slowly release stored soils moisture. Representative species include several of the shrub species listed above, fourwing saltbrush (Atriplex canescens), brittlebrush (Encelia farinosa), deerweed (Lotus scoparius), and Lord’s candle (Yucca whipplei ssp. parishii) (County of San Diego 2010a). The California gnatcatcher, California towhee (Melozone crissalis), white crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), cottontail (Sylvilagus spp.), and California thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) are representative birds of the coastal sage scrub communities. The orange-throated whiptail (Aspidoscelis hyperythra), San Diego horned lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum), banded gecko (Coleonyx variegatus abbotti), desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii), and deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) also use coastal sage scrub habitats. Coyotes (Canis latrans) are common predators in this community and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are occasionally seen (County of San Diego 2010a). Chaparral The chaparral type at any one location is determined by the dominant soils, elevation, rainfall, and other conditions. While various forms of chaparral have been lost to agriculture and urbanization, chaparral still occurs throughout the mesas and slopes of the coastal lowlands. Chaparral is generally composed of hard-stemmed shrubs with leathery leaves that avoid desiccation during the dry season. For example, cismontane chaparrals are characterized by large shrub species such as manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), scrub oak (Quercus dumosa or Q. berberidifolia), mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides), and wild lilac (Ceanothus spp.). Other types of chaparral included in this classification are southern mixed chaparral, northern mixed chaparral, chamise chaparral, red shank chaparral, montane chaparral, scrub oak chaparral, and maritime chaparral. Chaparral is home to a wide variety of birds. The spotted towhee (Pipilo maculates), wrentit (Chamaea fasciata henshawi), Bell’s sage sparrow (Amphispiza belli), and California thrasher are representative birds of the chaparral community. A number of November 2011April 2012 6281 Wind Energy Ordinance – Draft Environmental Impact Report 2.4-2 2.4 Biological Resources reptiles also inhabit this community, including the western whiptail (Cnemidophorus tigris), granite spiny lizard (Sceloporus orcutti), San Diego horned lizard, and Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus helleri). In rocky, boulder-strewn terrain on the eastern side of the mountains, the barefoot gecko (Coleonyx switaki) and chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) live in chaparral. Mammals include a number of species of bats, deer mice, pocket mice (Chaetodipus fallax), the desert cottontail, coyote, bobcat (Lynx rufus), mule deer, and mountain lion (Puma concolor) (Oberbauer et al. 2008). Woodland Woodlands throughout the County generally include oak woodland (black oak woodland, coast live oak woodland, and Engelmann oak woodland), walnut woodland, peninsular pinon and juniper woodland, peninsular pinon woodland, peninsular juniper woodland and scrub, elephant tree woodland, and eucalyptus woodland. Oak woodlands occur in a variety of locations where soil conditions are moister than the soils that host coastal sage scrub and chaparral vegetation. In the lowlands, they are mostly confined to stream and canyon bottoms, but in the foothills and mountains they occur in areas with good soil on north- and south-facing slopes. Woodlands create an open canopy and serve as habitat for bird species including oak titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus transpositus), mountain chickadee (Poecile gambeli baileyae), Nuttall’s woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii), northern flicker (Colaptes auratus), western scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica), and a variety of flycatchers and owls. Since oak woodlands often occur as linear features along drainages, the mammals that inhabit them are often the same ones that occur in the surrounding chaparral habitat, including coyote, bobcat, spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis), striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), and several species of bats make their homes within this plant community. Shrews and long-tailed weasels (Mustela frenata) tend to prefer oak woodland areas that provide more moisture. Grassland, Meadows, Vernal Polls, and Other Herb Communities Grasslands Grasslands in San Diego are generally divided into two types: native and non-native. Native grasslands are composed mostly of native perennial grasses and herbs, including several species of bunch grasses (Nassella spp.), blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), checker-bloom (Sidalcea malviflora ssp. sparsifolia), and San Diego goldenstar (Muilla clevelandii). Non-native grasslands consist of non-native annual grass species that originated in the Mediterranean region and support foxtail chess (Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens), ripgut grass (Bromus diandrus), wild oats (Avena spp.), fescues (Vulpia spp.), red-stem filaree (Erodium cicutarium), mustards (Brassica spp.), lupines (Lupinus spp.) and goldfields (Lasthenia spp.). Due to urbanization and November 2011April 2012 6281 Wind Energy Ordinance – Draft Environmental Impact Report 2.4-3 2.4 Biological Resources agricultural activities, non-native annual grasslands have predominately replaced native grasslands and shrub lands, including coastal sage scrub and chaparral. Meadows This classification includes montane meadows, alkali meadows and seeps, freshwater seeps, and vernal pools. Naturally occurring meadows exist primarily in the mountains and foothills where they form in areas of fine silty soils with groundwater close to the surface. Foothill valleys, such as Campo Valley, McCain Valley, and the area surrounding Lake Henshaw, support extensive meadows. Laguna Meadow in the Laguna Mountains and the area surrounding Cuyamaca Lake in the Cuyamaca Mountains are examples of montane meadows. Montane meadows are dominated by bunchgrasses (Agropyron spp.), sedges (Carex spp.), and spikesedges (Eleocharis spp.). During spring, they are somewhat boggy and moist, and
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